Wine Recommendation

Shady Lane Cellars

2004 Serenity
(Leelanau Peninsula)

Co-owners Joe O'Donnell and Bill Stouten were inspired by a handful of growers who pioneered wine grape growing in the Leelanau Peninsula AVA. They planted slightly more than 11 acres of Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Vignoles. First releases were vintage 1992.

Since 2000, winemaker Adam Satchwell has brought decades of experience to the production of Shady Lane wines and the unique 70 percent Vignoles and 30 percent Chardonnay Serenity blend.

Satchwell is one of a growing number of Michigan's well-educated and talented winemakers. He apprenticed under his winemaker-uncle Jed Steele [Steele Wines, Kelseyville, California] and has worked at wineries in New York and California's Lake, Mendocino and Sonoma counties. He loves northern Michigan, its winegrowing potential and makes it is home because he grew up here.

The Wine

The Reviewer

Eleanor & Ray Heald

The Healds have been writing about wine since 1978 and have focused on appellation significance in many of their world beat writings. They value recognizing site personality (terroir) within an appellation's wines. They praise balance and elegance in wines styled to pair well with food and eschew over-extraction, high alcohol and heavy-handed oak. “Delicious” is their favorite descriptor for a great, well-made wine.

The Wine

The Reviewer

Eleanor & Ray Heald

The Healds have been writing about wine since 1978 and have focused on appellation significance in many of their world beat writings. They value recognizing site personality (terroir) within an appellation's wines. They praise balance and elegance in wines styled to pair well with food and eschew over-extraction, high alcohol and heavy-handed oak. “Delicious” is their favorite descriptor for a great, well-made wine.